Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia begins his indefinite fast
What's the story
Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia began his indefinite fast in Ahmedabad in support of his demands, including construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The 62-year-old Hindutva leader, who quit the post of VHP International Working President last week after his nominee Raghav Reddy lost a key organizational poll, launched the fast outside the state VHP headquarters in the Paldi area after 12 pm.
Hunger strike
Hunger strike aimed at the welfare of Hindus
Togadia had earlier said his hunger strike would be aimed at the welfare of Hindus and to draw attention to his demands which includes construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya, a nation-wide ban on cow slaughter, enforcement of the common civil code, and resettlement of displaced Kashmiri Pandits.
The surgeon-turned-firebrand leader had launched a scathing attack on PM Modi after he quit VHP.
The venue
Togadia was planning to sit on fast at GMDC Ground
Earlier, Togadia was to sit on fast at GMDC Ground, but the police denied permission after which the venue was earlier today shifted to outside the VHP headquarters.
"We were denied permission by the police to go ahead with fast at GMDC Ground so we had to change the venue (located around 5km away)," said former VHP city president Raju Patel.
Information
Togadio quit VHP after Kokje was elected VHP international president
Togadia quit the right-wing organization after former Himachal Pradesh Governor VS Kokje was elected VHP international president defeating his nominee Raghav Reddy on last Saturday.
Claims
Last month, Togadia made a sensational claim about Rajasthan Police
Narendra Modi and Togadia, both of whom hail from Gujarat and started out as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers, drifted apart in the last decade with Modi's rise.
Togadia had made a sensational claim earlier last month, saying a Rajasthan Police team had come here to "abduct" him and he feared he could be eliminated in a "fake encounter".